Keeping pool fun for everyone

James

James

Red Wire... Right Temple
Silver Member
In an attempt to make an actual pool related thread this afternoon...

What do you all do when you are going to be playing for a while with people who are excited to play, but aren't really your speed. Especially when there are more than 2 players wanting to play?

A lot of my home playing with roommate/neighbors/friends involves 2-5 people hanging out, talking, playing pool and generally enjoying each others company. More often than not, most of these guys/gals are not "players". How do you guys make the best of this time?

I know we could just play games of 8 or 9 ball with some weight to even it out, but that still ends up fairly mundane for a player who isn't in it to be an A-player a.s.a.p.

I want to play for 3 or 4 hours, but I want them to continue to enjoy it as I do.

Tonight I'll try a ring game for a few hours and see if that livens things up at all.

Any other suggestions on ways to play with a few people and have it enjoyable for the new guys?

(Purists who think pool is only about becoming a shortstop and gambling for the big bucks, please feel free to attempt to discourage me. Just don't be dissapointed when I don't care at all. There is more to my life than pool afterall :D )
 
One handicap I like to give myself when playing against my roommates is to play 8-ball where they play by normal rules, but I have to play my group in rotation. So if I'm solids, I have to contact the 1-ball or 9-ball first, if I'm solids or stripes, respectively.
 
I like the game COLORS that uses 2,3 or 4 players. Balls are made in consecutive shots to score.

If the second ball of a color fails to pocket it must be followed by the 8 ball. The first ball never spots.

The game is similar to the game Cribbage but if the two ball color combination fails the black 8 following the 2nd ball spots as in Snooker.

COLORS can be found at www.sfbilliards.com

Click on misc. files for the game and Q&A
 
Hey, I've got another one... each time a game ends, the winner has to pound a drink. Automatic equalizer! :D
 
Nims said:
In an attempt to make an actual pool related thread this afternoon...

What do you all do when you are going to be playing for a while with people who are excited to play, but aren't really your speed. Especially when there are more than 2 players wanting to play? ...
Click to expand...
Scotch doubles, alternating shots. You have to take the worst klutz as your partner or rotate partners each rack.
 
Nims said:
In an attempt to make an actual pool related thread this afternoon...

What do you all do when you are going to be playing for a while with people who are excited to play, but aren't really your speed. Especially when there are more than 2 players wanting to play?
Click to expand...

Here's a game that we play in my basement during family get-togethers :

http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=74048

There are several variations on the specific 18 holes, and this is not the exact same one that I play, but otherwise it's the same (and it came up first in the earch, thanks Bob). Just because of the game, the best player shots the least, and the worst player shots the most, the opposite of most games like 8, 9, 14.1 etc. Set a maximum number of strokes per hole to reduce frustration. Handicap by giving people balls per hole (remove from table anytime after the break). It works well for us.

Dave
 
Two players. 8-Ball you have to play in rotation and bank or kick the 8.

Three players. Cut throat. The other two gang up on you. If they are really poor players you have to play all other balls in rotation and cannot pocket your own balls.

Four Players. Scotch Doubles where you discretely take the worst player as your partner.

If you have people who have not played or can't play (my wife is legally blind) or very young players, Play 8-Ball and they do not have to use the cue ball.

With reasonable player you have to call shot and position that must be played. They learn a lot.

You can always require yourself to bank or kick the last ball.

Opponent gets to remove (or move) one of your balls everytime you make a ball so you never get the position you wanted and always have to play back up position -- that will reeally make you think.

With a friend who is two balls below you and never wins, play Olympic 9-Ball - strictly offense.
 
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I'm not a great shot to begin with, but at this point can smoke anybody who doesn't shoot regularly, or plays a decent game.

IMO you can only shoot below your skill level for so long before you yourself get tired of playing down.

What's best to do is just play enough to keep your interest, but let the others compete with each other. Some of the Mickey Mouse games people play like Cut Throat have limited long term potential, and usually fizzle after twenty minutes. But, for some, twenty minutes of play is all they need, unlike the typical AZer who needs closer to 20 hours before they are satisfied.
 
One way to keep the game interesting for yourself while others are banging away is to select difficult positional shots in the midst of trying to win. I find that it keeps my interest and they often win, depending on the positions I play.
 
Playing scotch doubles is a great idea. You are a winner by helping people to enjoy the idea of pool.
 
Thanks guys,

I really appreciate all the responses. Last night was the first day of having a table at home and everyone had a great time. I had about 6 neighbors over at all times and everyone seemed to enjoy either watching or playing. We mostly played scotch doubles and I just focused on trying some difficult shots.

Should be a fun weekend!

-James
 
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